Scanning through the aisles at Sephora, Tower 28’s beachy, bright look always caught my eye. Whether it be their SOS line, the Juicy Lip jellies, the lengthening mascara, or the universal lip balms, I was intrigued to try them all. Founded by Amy Liu, Tower 28, named after a lifeguard tower on Santa Monica beach, is a makeup brand committed to providing clean products for everyone. Being the only makeup brand to completely abide by the National Eczema Association’s ingredient regulation, it is evident that Tower 28 prides itself on accommodating every skin type. All the company’s products are hypo-allergenic, non-comedogenic, dermatologist-tested, and cruelty-free! What are you waiting for?

Tower 28 consists of two skincare products and 10 makeup products with adorable packaging and a wide variety of shades. 

Starting off with the cult favorite, the ShineOn Lip Jelly, retailing for $16. This gloss has gone viral on Tik Tok, with over 10,000 views on #lipjellygloss. It is described as a moisturizing, shiny glow for the lips. The thing I love most about this product is the aftereffects; I had never found a gloss that leaves my lips soft and nourished, I always find glosses to have a weird pilling, drying look on my lips after having it on for a while. With five nourishing oils, this gloss keeps my lips moisturized throughout the day. One thing I hate about most lip glosses is the stickiness, but Tower 28’s ShineOn Lip Jelly is sticky-free, keeping your hair out of your mouth! It’s the perfect lip product to carry in your purse, backpack, or car console. It is forgiving in the application and no mirror is necessary. My favorite shade has to be SPICY, a bright red tint. I love the way it spices up a natural look and the way it flatters my brunette hair. Honestly, I can find no cons to this product.

Continuing with lip products, the newly launched JuiceBalm Tinted Lip Balm embodies everything needed for an effortless, beachy, “clean girl” look. With fresh shea butter and marula oil, this balm continues the trend of a comfortable feeling on the lips. The four shades, DRINK, SQUEEZE, SHAKE, and MIX, are easily applied, provide a “your lips but better” effect, and can be built up to a more intense look. DRINK and SHAKE tie for my favorite shade, I love the blushed look of DRINK and the pink, natural color of SHAKE. JuiceBalm contains the aspects of a gloss, balm, and lipstick, with just a few swipes, providing a high-shine payoff, moisturizing qualities, and a coat of beautiful tint. You can go a while without needing to reapply and your lips aren’t left with an uncomfortable residue, making it the perfect product for anyone who is new to makeup or for someone who wants a fool-proof lip. I have tried higher-end products of the same type– one that comes to mind is the Dior Addict Lip Glow, breaking the bank at the price of $40. If you have tried this and are looking for a more affordable option that is just as good, or in my opinion, better, JuiceBalm would be my first recommendation.

One of my favorite steps in my makeup routine is mascara. If you’re going for a simple look or just want to make yourself look more awake, a quick swipe of mascara does the job. The MakeWaves mascara, winning the Allure’s Best of Beauty award in 2022, is perfect for sensitive eyes, formulated with vegan ingredients and Aquaflex Technology. The wand of the mascara lengthens and separates the lashes with its Triple-Wave Wand with three flexible bands. To put this mascara to the ultimate test, I did a full workout, sweat and all, with the mascara applied. Although I wouldn’t choose to wear mascara to the gym, this one gave me no problems. By the end of my workout, my lashes were still perfectly lengthened and separated, with no flaking or smudging.

Lastly, Tower 28 has two skincare products in their SOS (Save Our Skin) line, the Daily Rescue Facial Spray and Serum, which I have been testing out for some months now. Instead of spraying it all over my face, I have found success in using a q-tip and spot-treating on active pimples to soothe and calm. The spray is supposed to embody the feeling of taking a dunk in the ocean and being left with glowing, bouncy skin. LA girls can take this for granted because we live near a beach, but it might be an exotic gift for others around the world! Although my experience with this spray hasn’t been revolutionary, I have seen hundreds of creators call this spray their holy grail. With hypochlorous acid (basically salt and water), as the main ingredient, Tower 28 explains this spray as an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial product that can aid in soothing irritation and redness. I usually reach for this product after working out to eliminate bacteria, but currently, it is not a step in my everyday skincare routine.

Overall, I think Tower 28 has taken a big step in the right direction for the makeup industry. With all products following the National Eczema Association, Tower 28 makes it possible for people with any skin type or skin conditions to enjoy the art of makeup. If you aren’t convinced by me, give it a try for yourself, you won’t regret it!